Sands skypark observation deck

Update, 8:50 a.m. Friday: Welp. Fog is blocking the view… Update, 6:15 a.m. Friday: The Needle is unwrapped. Photos coming soon. The Space Needle’s makeover is nearly complete, and it’s time for the big reveal. Just after 9 p.m. Thursday, crews plan to remove a massive tarp hiding construction to the famous observation deck that began last year. Then, they’ll spend a month or so removing a 100-ton elevated scaffold platform, according to project leaders of the Seattle Center. “It’s a wrap!” a Facebook post by the Seattle Center says. “We can’t wait to see it!” a tweet by the institution adds. The $100 million renovation project includes translucent floors and a new motor in the Needle’s rotating restaurant, as well as a glass panels to separate patrons and the sky. Other changes include fresh paint on the exterior, and, possibly, more elevators. With the updates, Space Needle CEO Ron Sevart said last year, … [Read more...] about ‘It’s a wrap!’: Crews reveal Space Needle’s new-and-improved observation deck

Seattle’s Space Needle unveiled the most expensive renovation in its history on Thursday, giving the public a chance to experience new elements of its nearly all-glass upper observation deck. The 605-foot tower’s saucer-shaped deck has been fitted with 48 glass walls that lean out over the city and reclining glass benches that replace the concrete and a metal cage that were part of the structure since it was built in 1962. The new setup affords observers a 360-degree view of the Emerald City from 500 feet in the air. About 80 percent of the upper-observation deck and open-air observation deck are complete, Space Needle officials said. The first visitors will have access to 10 of the 24 installed glass benches, called Skyrisers. “When you sit back and sit up against the glass barriers it feels like you’re floating over Seattle,” said Space Needle spokesman Dave Mandapat. “I think they’re going to end up being the place for the ultimate … [Read more...] about First look: Space Needle unveils nearly complete glass observation deck

In an age when smartphone-obsessed humans aren’t prone to observation, Chicago is getting another sky-high observation deck, a place the aforementioned humans can go and take smartphone pictures of views they can’t be bothered to directly observe.Owners of the Aon Center skyscraper have announced plans for a rooftop observatory and a ride called the Sky Summit that hoists a clear cab full of people over the edge of the building for a brief thrill. The building will also get a glass elevator tube that shoots visitors up the side of the skyscraper to the observatory.As my colleagues Ally Marotti and Blair Kamin reported, the Aon Center plan would set up “a heated competition for tourist dollars with established observatories at Willis Tower and 875 N. Michigan Ave., the former John Hancock Center.”That’s right. Chicago will have three different spots where tourists and residents alike can get bird’s-eye views of the the city and the lake.But if you … [Read more...] about Aon Center observation deck won’t peel our eyes from our phones. Here’s what might.

Detroit — The city will get its first modern observation deck when work is complete on the Hudson’s site project at some point beyond 2020.The deck will crown the 800-foot tower of the yet unnamed $1 billion development at Woodward and Gratiot — what will be Detroit’s tallest building.“Observation decks are common in major American cities, and during the design process for Hudson’s, it came up that Detroit doesn’t currently have a high vantage point downtown that the public can enjoy,” said Jamie Witherspoon, director of architecture for Bedrock, which is developing the site. “Since the Hudson’s site is so iconic, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to add this point of interest.”Bedrock officials say the deck could have multiple levels.“There could possibly be multiple views or multiple floors,” Witherspoon said. “We haven’t ironed out all the details yet. It will be the tallest building in … [Read more...] about Hudson’s project has big plans for observation deck

A tiered wildlife observation platform extending 15 feet above ground level will open to public view a long-held property near Lake Michigan. The handicapped-accessible, galvanized steel structure will be installed at the Spring Bluff Forest Preserve east of Sheridan Road near Winthrop Harbor. It is a key connection in a chain of coastal wetlands designated as having international importance. Spring Bluff, once subdivided for residential use, was acquired lot by lot by the Lake County Forest Preserve District beginning in 1963. Visitors could walk into the 229-acre property on a crumbling asphalt emergency access road, but the marshy landscape doesn't lend itself to hiking and the area has remained a preserve mainly in name only. The observation deck and planned conversion of the old road to a multiuse trail will provide access to a 360-degree view of a dramatic landscape that has been undergoing restoration to its native state for more than 10 years, as well as of Lake Michigan … [Read more...] about New observation deck will open unseen vista at Spring Bluff Preserve

Bay City News Service Published 1:11 pm, Tuesday, January 23, 2018 The public may soon get two new places to view San Francisco Bay if observation decks are built off Yerba Buena Island and Oakland on piers from the old Bay Bridge eastern span, according to a memo by the Toll Bridge Program Oversight Committee. The committee will hear greater details about the proposed Oakland project at a public meeting at 3:30 p.m. today at the Bridge Yard Building at 210 Burma Road in Oakland. The two projects involve building observation decks on piers that were part of the old eastern bridge span instead of demolishing the remaining piers. LATEST SFGATE VIDEOS Now Playing: Now Playing Gongfu Tea Gabrielle Lurie A walkthrough of the 2018 Winter Fancy Food Show Urmila Ramakrishnan Tracking Tsunamis NOAA Tsunami Awareness NOAA Could you live in a remodeled school bus? Alix Martichoux / SFGATE Kevin Durant on Capela’s “We’re … [Read more...] about Observation Decks Proposed On Old Bay Bridge Piers

UPDATE: Lansing police release surveillance photos of robbery suspects LANSING — A 24-year-old clerk was shot in the leg Sunday night during a robbery at a Family Dollar store, police said.The shooting may be linked to another armed robbery earlier in the night at a Munster Burger King, Lansing police said.Lansing police were dispatched about 9:50 p.m. to the Family Dollar at 17829 Burnham Ave. after three men robbed the business and shot the clerk.Police said the suspects were described as three males wearing dark clothing. The three men entered the store about 10 minutes before closing and demanded money from the clerk. One of the men fired a gun at the clerk, and an undisclosed amount of money was taken before the three men fled through a parking lot, police said.In a statement released at 9:17 p.m. Monday night, Lansing police said the clerk, who reportedly suffered a gunshot wound to the leg, was transported to a local hospital. Police said the clerk underwent surgery and … [Read more...] about 5 stories you need to know today: Lansing police release surveillance photos of robbery suspects. Continued erosion causes observation deck at Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk to collapse.

PORTAGE — The circular, concrete observation deck overlooking Lake Michigan at the Portage Riverwalk and Lakefront collapsed over the weekend. It is the latest blow to the park that has been suffering from erosion the past few years. The continued erosion was compounded recently as high waves and strong winds battered the shoreline. Portage Park Superintendent Jenny Orsburn said she was informed of the collapse Sunday night. The area was roped off with caution tape and barriers to prevent people from wandering onto the area. The 60-acre park is owned by the National Park Service and managed by the Portage Park Department. Federal officials were unavailable Monday because offices were closed in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Orsburn said she planned to meet with Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Superintendent Paul Labovitz this week to assess the damage, determine a monetary loss and devise a plan to move forward. The park department, along with the … [Read more...] about Continued erosion causes observation deck at Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk to collapse

Hamburg officials are hoping the observation deck at Hamburg Town Park can stay where it is. The state Department of Environmental Conservation told the town last month that the deck, built on the bluff overlooking Lake Erie last summer, violates state law because it was built in a regulated area within a coastal erosion hazard area. The construction required a state permit or a variance, which the town didn't get. State and town officials met last week. "It was acknowledged that approval was not sought prior to construction," Highway Superintendent Ted Casey said. "It is clearly within the coastal erosion zone." But Casey said he doesn't think the deck is adversely affecting the area. Casey said the DEC is still deciding what to do over the matter, and a DEC spokeswoman said there was no update on a resolution of the issue. The town could be fined up to $1,000 a day, according to state law. He said the town did have a building permit for the deck from the town Building … [Read more...] about Hamburg hopes it doesn’t have to raze park’s observation deck overlooking lake